Assignment: Write a paper in MLA format of no less than 5 pages that both compares and contrasts Sinclair’s America with modern parallels.
Step 1 - Research: There are many places online that you can go for research. In a formal research, you need to make sure that your information is fact checked. While you are certainly allowed to use search engines like Google to find information, you should start with scholarly databases. They have good information that is checked by experts. Your school library's webpage has links to many services that the district pays for you to have. For this assignment Infotrac and eLibrary would be good places to start. Ask your teacher for a list of passwords. Click here to go to the list of databases.
Step 2 - Works Cited: After you have done your research and know which articles you want to use, create a works cited page in MLA format. You can change this if you add or remove sources later. Citation machine can help you to format your works cited page correctly.
Step 3 - Rough Draft: Write the rough draft of your paper. Don't worry about formatting right now. When you are done, proofread it to see what you can add. Make sure you have another student or teacher proofread it also to. Sometimes other perspectives can help you to see what you miss on your own.
Step 4 - Final Draft: Fix any errors in your paper and add any information that you need to. Then, format your entire paper according to MLA format. Purdue University has an excellent website on how to use MLA format.
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Page length - 10
The paper is too short to have enough information of merit to earn a good grade.
The paper is half of a page too short or too long.
The paper is at least 5 full pages and no more than 5 and one-half.
MLA Format - 15
The paper does not adhere to MLA format because it has several errors in formatting.
The paper adheres mostly to MLA format with 1-2 errors.
The paper adheres strictly to MLA format with no errors.
Thesis Statement – 15
The thesis statement does not give much direction to the paper.
The thesis statement could be more thorough. There is room for vacillation so it does not give a distinct direction to the paper.
The thesis statement is thorough, thoughtful, and worded accurately so that there is no confusion of meaning. The paper is guided by the thesis statement.
Introduction - 10
The introductory paragraph lacks a thesis statement and/or supporting ideas.
The introductory paragraph has a thesis statement and brings up most of the central ideas of the paper.
The introductory paragraph has a thesis statement and it brings up the important ideas of the paper without going into tangents or excessive information.
Comparison/Contrast - 40
The paper is spent mostly on simple explanation and does not thoroughly develop more than 2 good arguments.
There is some explanation, but most of the paper is focused on comparing and contrasting. There are at least 3 distinct examples that are well-developed.
The bulk of the paper is spent on comparison and contrast, not on explanation. The Jungle and modern America are thorough compared in at least 5 distinct ways.
Conclusion – 10
There is no conclusion; the paper end abruptly.
The conclusion provides closure by offering a summative idea or proposal but does not reinforce the central ideas of the paper.
The conclusion goes over the central ideas of the paper and provides closure to the paper.
Step 1 - Research: There are many places online that you can go for research. In a formal research, you need to make sure that your information is fact checked. While you are certainly allowed to use search engines like Google to find information, you should start with scholarly databases. They have good information that is checked by experts. Your school library's webpage has links to many services that the district pays for you to have. For this assignment Infotrac and eLibrary would be good places to start. Ask your teacher for a list of passwords. Click here to go to the list of databases.
Step 2 - Works Cited: After you have done your research and know which articles you want to use, create a works cited page in MLA format. You can change this if you add or remove sources later. Citation machine can help you to format your works cited page correctly.
Step 3 - Rough Draft: Write the rough draft of your paper. Don't worry about formatting right now. When you are done, proofread it to see what you can add. Make sure you have another student or teacher proofread it also to. Sometimes other perspectives can help you to see what you miss on your own.
Step 4 - Final Draft: Fix any errors in your paper and add any information that you need to. Then, format your entire paper according to MLA format. Purdue University has an excellent website on how to use MLA format.